Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The bottom line is this: I want to put it to the Taoiseach that we have had commentary left, right and centre about a substantial issue to do with charging for water. Irrespective of one's perspective on it, it goes to the heart of the relevance of this House to debate what is taking place in the country. We have had this on successive days over the weekend. The least this House should do is to allocate time for the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, to make a detailed statement outlining the work that has been undertaken to date on the preparation for the introduction of water metering and all of the detailed proposals that have been submitted by the utility companies for the selection process. It was the worst kept secret that Bord Gáis would get this because executives were saying this a number of weeks ago - that is interesting if the decision was only taken yesterday. People seemed to know Bord Gáis would get this some time ago so there is a need for the Minister of State to come in, to make a detailed statement and to take questions from Members.

The Taoiseach mentioned the VAT issue this morning. His own Minister of State could not answer the question on that this morning when he was asked it on "Morning Ireland".

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